Combination couch and bed



March 8, 1932. .I4 MARTIN COMBINATION coUcH AND BED Filed Jan. 7, 1950 2Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 8, 1932.

J. MARTIN COMBINATION COUCH AND BED 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1950ATTORNEY u Patented Mair. S, 1932 PATENT OFFICE L JOSEPH MARTIN, OF NEWYORK, NY., ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES CABINET BED CO., OF BROOKLYN, NEWYORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK COMBINATION COUCH AND BED Applicationled January 7, 1930. Serial No. 419,012.

l My invention relates to combination bed and couch structures, that is,-to beds having an extensible section foldable under the main section tothus provide a couch or bed of a Vsingle or double Width.

'The present structure is generally similar to that disclosed in myprior application, vSer. No. 391,587. filed September 10, 1929, whichmatured into Patent No. 1,811,057 on l@ June Q3, 1931; that is, as shownin said application, tlielpresent bed structure. includes a main bedtraine and bed bottom revolubly mounted therein, an auxiliary orextension bed frame with an extension bed bottom thereon, and means formoving the extension bed bottom down into its frame as the latter ismoved or `telescoped into the main frame, with concurrent rotation ofthe main bed bottom, which finally lies in inverted position over theaxiliary or extension bed bottom, with substantially-reverse movementsin opening the structure to double width.

The present invention consists principally in improvements in thesupporting and opei'ating` means for the extension or auxiliary frameand bed bottom, and-especially to improvements in the operating linkageconnecting the auxiliary and main bed bottoms, so designed as to preventinadvertent'collapse of the structure when in extended or double -widtliposition; an improved operating element of bail formation, or includinga long hand piece extending alongside the auxiliary bed bottom whenextended, which may be conveniently grasped and moved up oven theauxliarybottom inthe collapsing orv folding action, and when in finalposition overlies the mattresses enclosed between the main and auxiliarybed-bottoms and assists 49 materially iii retaining bedclothes. betweenthe mattresses during the collapsing or folding action and until vtheauxiliary bed bottom again extended and positioned for use;

and also an improved, positive and conveniently operated locl; -foimaintaining the outer portion of the extensible bed bottoni in lockedposition, against inadvertent collapsing or folding movement.

`These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the inventionwill appear from the subjoiiied detail description of one embodimenttliereof,`illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l isa. vertical, transverse section of a :Foldable structure embodying the.invention in one form, the section plane lbeing just inside one of themain frame end uprights head or foot board) and looking toward the otherend of the bed.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the structure folded or collapsed tosingle Width.

Fig. 3 is an elevation from the side, of one end of the structure inopen or extended position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the structure, folded.

Fig. 5 is a. detail in side elevation, of the looking device.

The main frame includes end` uprights (head or toot boards) 1, whichhave legs 2 connected by cross rails 3 and also by longitudinal framestructures, substantially as in' the above identilied application. Anauxiliary or extension fran'ie is arranged to slide in and out from themain frame. lThis auxiliary frame includes bottom end members 6 to slideon the main frame cross rails 3 and provided with casters 7,'and has atits outward side a front board 8 secured to the end uprights 9 andforming the front of the couch when' the structure is closed. The upperedge 10 of the -front board is designed to tit against a side edge ofthe main bed bottom as later referred to.

lThe main frame supports a bed bottom structure l5including a framehaving end members 16 mounted in the main frame on trunnions 17 so thatthe entire'main bed bottom structure may rotate on the trunnions as anaxis. The frame has springs 18 properly arranged to carry the seat orcushion 19.v

which serves as the seat or mattress of theposition, as in Fig. 2, beingthen uppermost, and also has to carry the mattress supporting frameQO tosupport mattress 21 when the structure is in open or double Widthposition,

bed -or couch when in folded or single Width in folding action the mainmattress 21 may first be folded over upon the other one. They aredesirably connected at adjacent edges by a fabric hinge 75, thusproviding for their more convenient manipulation, and retention of thebed covers between the mattresses.

The auxiliary bed bottom is supported and operated by crossed bars 40,41, at each end of its frame structure, these bars being fulcrumed orpivotally `connected together at their mid-length at 42. The upper endsof bars are pivotally connected at fixed points 43 to end rails 31, andthe lower ends of bars 41 arelsimilarly connected at 44 to the lower endframe members 6. The upper ends of bars 41 are slidably mounted in slots45 in the end rails 31, and the lower ends of bars 40 are similarlymounted in slots in the lower frame members 6. V

To operate the stated cross bar mechanism, which as so far described issubstantially similar to that disclosed in the above menmechanismincludes at each end of the aux- .iliary frame structure an arm or lever50.

pivotally connected at a fixed point 51 on the corresponding end rail31,. The outward ends of these two arms or levers are connected by ahand bar or bail 52 which extends along the entire length oftheauxiliary frame structure at the outer side thereof, in a position whereit may easily be grasped and manipulated as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Thearms or levers are econnected to the upper ends of bars'41 of the crossbar mechanism by vlinks 54, these links being pivotal-ly connected tothe levers at 55, and at the other ends being pivotally connected to theupper ends of bars 41 at56,that is to say, at the points Where the endsof these bars slide in slots 45, suitable slide and pivot structuresbeing provided, the details of which may vary and are not a part of theinvention in a specific sense.

For the concurrent operation of the main bed bottom structure, thefollowing connections or linkage is provided v:-

At each end of the bed structure a lever is fulcrumed on a fixed pivotpoint- 61 at the uinward end of one of the corresponding botlevers ispivotally connected to the upper end of a link 62, the lower end ofwhich is pivotally connected to the lower end of bar 40 of the crossedbar mechanism at a point 63, which is the point at which the bar isslidably mounted in the lower guide slot 46. Another link 64 ispivotally connected at 65 to the corresponding lever60 at a pointrelatively near its pivotal connection tothe link 62. The upper orinward end of each of the links 64 is pivotally connected at 66 to abracket fixed on ,the frame of the main bed bottom.

i Springs tensioned between bars 40 near their lower ends, and the lowerframe member 6, are stretched when the structure is folded. and as it isunfolded assist in the unfolding action, reducing the manual effortrequired by tending to move the cross bar structures 40.I 41 to theposition of Fig. 1. Shock absorbing springs 71 are also desirablymounted in the auxiliary frame structure to cushion the descendingmovement of the auxiliary or extension bed bottom, these springarrangements being substantially as in the above mentioned application.

As an important feature of the invention I provide an improved lock topositively retain the structure in extended position, and preventinadvertent collapse by upward pulling on the hand rail 52 or otherwise.This lock mechanism comprises a longitudinal bar 80, located below thelongitudinal outer side rail 81 of the auxiliary bed bottom frame, andslidably supported at one point by a stud 82 on a bracket S3 dependingfrom'said frame member and engaging in slot 84 of the locking bar 80. Atone end the bar is supported by a bell crank lever 85 fulcrumed at 86 onanother bracket and pivotally connected at 87 to the locking bar. Nearone end the bar is slotted to accommodate the upper end portion of theadjacent frame end upright 9, and is there provided with a locking dog88 having a lower beveled face 89 and engaging in a slot 90 in the frameupright 9, Figs. 1 and 5. At its other end the locking bar has a similardog 91 engaging in a slot 92 at the upper end of the other extensionframe upright 9. The outer end of bell crank 85 has connected to it asuitable handle, such as a strap 92 extending upward at oneend of theauxiliary bed bottom, in a position (Figs. 4 and 5) to be readilygrasped and pulled up to release the locking bar from engagement withthe uprights 9, and thereupon the auxiliary. or extension structure maybe moved back to folded or collapsed position bymanipulation of the bailor hand rail 52.

lVhile the parts are in extended position, Fig. 1, collapse of thestructure by weight applied near the center of the combined bed bottomsis prevented bythe position of the supporting and operating linkage ofthe revoluble main bed bottom structure, including level' 60, and links62 and 64. Evidently any weight so applied tends to move the supportwiththe lower frame members 6, rigid tripods reventine anv downward movementof links 64 and positively supporting the respective bed bottoms.

To fold the structure, after the. locking bar has been released as aboveexplained, hand rail 52 is grasped and swung upward, the

arms or levers turning on theirfulcrums 51.4

Links 54 thereupon act on the upper ends of `bars 4l causing them toslide in slots 45, and

simultaneously the lower ends of bars`40 are caused to slide in slots46, as the crossed bar structures are folded to approximately parallelposition as shown'inFig. 2. Simultaneously the movement of links 62 andlevers 60 acting through links 64 cause rotation ofthe vbed bottom framestructure, and finally all the links and levers are in the position ofFig.I 4 and the main bed bottom is inverted, bringing its cushion 19upward, while the auxiliary bed bottom is in lower position in theextension frame and-the latter has-been moved or telescoped into themain frame. To open or extend the structure, substantially reverseoperations are performed, the user first starting -the rotationof'theupper or main bed bottom and then as handle 52 becomes accessible thatmay be moved to complete the extension operation.

Preferably in folding the structure the mattress 2l is lirstfolded overon the outer mattress 33, and the bedclothes may be folded and retainedbetween the mattresses. Thereupon in the folding action as abovedescribed the handle or bail 52 moves up over the two mattresses andfinally rests upon mattress 21, as shown in Fig. 2, thus retaining themattresses and the enclosed bedclothes in proper position.

It is obvious that various vchanges and modifications may be made in thedetails of construction without departing` from the general spirit ofthe invention set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A foldable bed or couch structure comprising a main frameA` a mainbed bottom structure revolubly mounted therein.I an auxiliary frameslidable into and from the main 'fi-ame, an auxiliary bed bottomstructure therein, means supporting the auxiliary bed bottom forvertical movement in its frame. said supporting means including -crossedbars pivotally and slidably connected to the auxiliary frame andauxiliary bed bottom structures, levers pivotally connect-ed toV ends ofthe auxiliary bed bottom, a longi.

tudinal bail handle connecting the levers, and

This force is resisted by le links connecting the levers'to certain ofthe crossed bars.

2. A foldable bed or couch structure comprisingca main frame, a main bedbottom structure revolubly, mounted therein, an auxiliary frame slidableinto and from .,the main frame, an auxiliary bed bottom structuretherein, means supporting th-e auxiliary bed bottom for verticalmovement `in its frame, said supporting` means including crossed barspivotally and slidably connected to the auxiliary vframe and auxiliarybed bottom structures, and a linkage connecting lower end portions ofcertain of the crossed bars to the main bed bottom structure, saidlinkage comprising levers fulcrumed at fixed points on the auxiliaryframes, links connecting upper ends of the levers to lower ends of twoof said crossed bars, and other links connecting the levers to the mainbed bottom structure.

3. A foldable bed or couch structure comprising a main frame,a main'bedbottom structure revolubly mounted therein, an auxiliary frame slidableinto and from the main frame, an auxiliary bed bottom structure therein,means supporting the auxiliary bed bottom for vertical movement in itsframe, said supporting means including crossed bars pivotally andslidably connected to the, auxiliary frame and auxiliary bed bottomstructures, and a linkage connecting lower end portions of certain ofthecrossed bars to the main bed bottom structure, said linkage comprisinglevers fulcrumed at lixed points on the auxiliary frames, linksconnecting upperends of the levers to lower ends lof two of said crossedbars` and other links connecting the levers to the main bed bottomstructure, said levers and links last named being so positioned in theextended position of the structure as to positively support the centralportions of the main and auxiliary bed bottom structures.

4. A foldable bed or couch structure comprising a main frame, a main bedbottom structure revolubly mounted therein, an auxiliary frame slid ableinto and from the main frame, an auxiliary bed bottom structure therein,means supporting the auxiliary bed bottom for vertical movement in itsframe, said supporting means including crossed bars pivotally andslidably connected to the auxiliary frame and auxiliary bedbottom'structures, levers pivotally connected to ends of the auxiliarybed bottom, a longitudinal bail handle connecting the levers, and linkscon necting the levers to certain of the crossed bars, said bail handlein the folding move ment passing above and finally lying upon superposedmattresses located on the auxiliary bed bottom structure.

5. A foldable bed or couch structure comprising a main frame, a main bedbottom structure revolubly mounted therein, an

auxiliary frame slidable into and from the main frame, an auxiliary bedbottom structure therein, means supporting the auxiliary bed bottom forvertical movement in its frame, a linkage connecting said means to themain bed bottom structure and to the auxiliary frame and constructed andarranged to operate it and also When the structure is in extendedposition to support adjacent portions of the main and auxiliary bedbottoms and prevent downward displace ment by Weight thereto applied,and locking means acting between the auxiliary bed bottom structure andits frame and retaining the structure in extended position, said lockingmeans including a longitudinal barrreciprocably mounted in relation tothe auxiliary bed bottom, means for operating it including a handleaccessible at one end of said structure,

and dogs on the bar adapted to engage in i sockets on end portions ofthe auxiliary or extensible frame.

' JOSEPH MARTIN.

